Opinions - Middle East and North Africa

 What Comes Next in the U.S./Israel–Iran Conflict? Mapping the Escalation Trajectory

What Comes Next in the U.S./Israel–Iran Conflict? Mapping the Escalation Trajectory

by Mehmet Akif Koç, published on 6 April 2026
While it remains too early to fully assess the long-term consequences of the Gaza war, one outcome is obvious: whatever Hamas hoped to achieve on October 7, the fallout has significantly undermined Iran's quasi-hegemonic position in the region.
The Causes of the Iran War and the Prospects for a Ceasefire

The Causes of the Iran War and the Prospects for a Ceasefire

by Mehmet Akif Koç, published on 4 April 2026
The Prussian general and military theorist Carl von Clausewitz famously defined war not merely as an act of violence, but as "the continuation of politics by other means" — an extension of diplomacy rather than its abandonment. Wars are not fought to satisfy some destructive impulse, nor do states enter conflict for its own sake.
IRAN’S DRONE STRIKES ON NAKHCHIVAN SERVED AS A TEST OF AZERBAIJAN'S RESOLVE

IRAN’S DRONE STRIKES ON NAKHCHIVAN SERVED AS A TEST OF AZERBAIJAN'S RESOLVE

by Rufat Ahmadzada, published on 23 March 2026
Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave contains neither U.S. nor other foreign military bases, contrary to the Iranian official narrative. What motivated the Iranian regime to target a civilian airport and a school in Nakhchivan on 5 March?
İran’a kara harekatı senaryosu: %55 savaş, %45 ateşkes

İran’a kara harekatı senaryosu: %55 savaş, %45 ateşkes

by instituDE, published on 23 March 2026
Bu hafta içi uzmanlarımızla bir anket daha yaptık. Katılımcılara 1- İran’da rejim yıkılır mı, 2- Yakın dönemde bir ateşkes olur mu, 3- ABD kara harekatı yapar ve savaş uzar mı diye soruldu.
When THAAD Leaves: The Risks to South Korea’s Missile Defense and What Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul Must Do Next

When THAAD Leaves: The Risks to South Korea’s Missile Defense and What Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul Must Do Next

by Ju Hyung Kim, published on 16 March 2026
The redeployment of U.S. missile defense assets, including Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) batteries and Patriot systems from South Korea to the Middle East has triggered understandable concern in Seoul.
Collateral Allies: Why the Gulf States Are Paying the Price for the War with Iran

Collateral Allies: Why the Gulf States Are Paying the Price for the War with Iran

By Sidra Shaukat, published on 10 March 2026
On Saturday morning, February 28, white contrails streaked across the blue skies above Abu Dhabi. They were not passenger jets. They were Iranian ballistic missiles. Within 24 hours, six Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman) had all been struck, even though not one of them had fired a single shot at Iran. Apart from military installations, luxury hotels and airports were also targeted by Iran.

Reports - Middle East and North Africa

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

Turkey's Vision For a New Syria

by Mustafa Enes Esen, Haşim Tekineş, Mehmet Demirbaş and Servet Akman, published on 14 February 2026
This report analyzes Turkey’s vision for Syria following the fall of the Assad family and the rise of the HTS under the leadership of Ahmad al-Sharaa. In this regard, it focuses on the foreign actors that, alongside Turkey, now have the greatest ability to shape Syria’s future: namely the United States and Israel.

Videos - Middle East and North Africa

Şarm el-Şeyh'te Bir Fırsat mı Kaçırıldı?

October 14, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 14 October 2025
Mısır'da ABD başkanı Donald Trump, Erdoğan ve 20 ülke başkanının katılımıyla büyük bir Gazze barış zirvesi gerçekleştirildi. Peki Zirve bekleneni verebildi mi? Türkiye Gazze'ye asker gönderecek mi? Riskler neler? Asker göndermeye niyetli başka ülkeler hangisi?

Gazze'de Savaşın Yıldönümü: Trump Planı İşe Yarayacak mı?

October 7, 2025
by Haşim tekineş, published on
Trump Gazze için yeni bir barış planı hazırladı. Taraflar anlaşmayı prensipte kabul etti. Peki anlaşma Gazze için ne anlama geliyor? Kalıcı bir ateşkes sağlanabilir mi? Anlaşmanın zayıf yönleri neler? Olası riskler neler?

Amerika'nın Katar ve Polonya Sınavları

September 11, 2025
İsrail Katar'ı vurdu. Rus İHA'ları ise Polonya hava sahasını işgal etti. Amerika'nın tepkisi ne olacak?
by Mehmet Demirbaş and Haşim Tekineş, published on 11 September 2025

Ankara Suriye'de Vites mi Yükseltiyor?

August 28, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 August 2025
Türkiye Suriye'deki açmazdan nasıl kurtulacak. Alternatif politika arayışları neler? Türkiye İsrail'e karşı daha cesur politikalar izleyebilir mi? İsrail bir NATO ülkesini vurmaya cesaret edebilir mi?

Oil, Power, and Politics: Inside the Turkey-Iraq Pipeline War

July 28, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 28 July 2025
In this video, we break down the complex dispute between Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Suriye Türkiye için Zafer mi Zaafiyet mi?

July 17, 2025
by Haşim Tekineş, published on 17 July 2025
Suriye'de artan gerilim bir kere daha bölgedeki dengelerin nezaketini ortaya koydu. İsrail ise Şam'ı vurarak Suriye konusunda kararlılığını ortaya koydu? Türkiye nasıl cevap verecek?